The University of Akron Athletics
Saturday, November 4
Cincinnati, Ohio
7:00 PM
University of Akron
at
Xavier
Akron Set to Open BIG EAST Championship Play at Xavier
November 03 | Men's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio – The 14th-ranked University of Akron men's soccer team opens BIG EAST Championship play traveling to Cincinnati, Ohio, for a showdown with second-seeded Xavier on Saturday (Nov. 4). The 7 p.m. match with the Musketeers will be broadcast on the BIG EAST Digital Network/FloSports.
GAME INFO
Akron at Xavier | Nov. 4 | 7 PM | Cincinnati, Ohio | Live Stats | BIG EAST Digital Network/FloSports
HEAD COACHES
Xavier: John Higgins (UIndy, 2010), Overall Record: 166-61-41 (14th Season), Record at Butler: 16-5-12 (Second Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 180-76-40 (14th Season), Record at Akron: 133-55-32 (11th Season)
SCOUTING AKRON
The Zips under the leadership of 11th-year head coach Jared Embick enters its showdown at Xavier on Saturday (Nov. 4) at 9-1-7 on the campaign, including a 2-1-5 mark in the BIG EAST, following a 0-0 draw at Butler on Oct. 28.
Junior Jason Shokalook (Erie, Pa.) owns team-high marks in goals (14), assists (5), points (31), shots (81), shots on goal (40) and game-winners (3). Redshirt sophomore GK Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) has collected 29 saves and owns a 0.74 goals against average with eight shutouts this season.
The Zips are rated first in the NCAA in corner kicks (8.53), second in shots per game (19.06), third in shots on goal per contest (8.06) and in shutout percentage (.588), seventh in team goals against average (.647), 16th in goal differential (20), 19th in winning percentage (.735), 20th in total assists (36), 25th in total points (98), 26th in assists per game (2.12), 28th in total goals (31), 30th in save percentage (.780), 33rd in points per tilt (5.76) and 41st in scoring offense (1.82).
Individually, Jason Shokalook is first in the NCAA in total goals (14) and total points (33), second in shots on goal per match (2.50), third in shots per outing (5.06) and points per tilt (2.06), fourth in goals per game (0.88) and 35th in game-winning goals (3). Mitch Budler is 10th in shutouts (8) and 17th in goals against average (0.739).
Overall, Akron returns 11 starters in 2023 from a squad that registered a 11-4-5 overall record, including a 5-0-3 ledger in league play. Headlining that group is 2022 All-Mid-American Conference performers, juniors Jonas Buechte (Rantigen, Germany) and Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah) and Johnny Fitzgerald (Tallahassee, Fla.), junior Malik Henry (Hamilton, Ontario), Will Jackson (Hudson, Ohio), Joel Sangwa (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Shokalook and junior Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (Carbondale, Ill.), from a team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 35th time in program history.
SCOUTING XAVIER
Xavier enters its match against Akron on Saturday (Nov. 4) at 7-3-5 on the season, including 4-1-3 in the BIG EAST Conference, following a 4-0 victory at UConn on Oct. 28.
Senior Jerome Jolly leads the Musketeers in goals (4), points (10), shots on goal (12) and game-winners (4), while junior Taylor Rhinehart paces the squad in assists (3) and shots (23). Sophomore GK Jonny Mennell has recorded 43 saves this season and maintains a 0.94 goals against average with six shutouts.
As a team, Xavier is rated first in the NCAA in penalty kicks (1.000), 33rd in shots on goal per game (6.13) and shutout percentage (.400), 37th in team goals against average (.933) and 48th in save percentage (.759).
Individually, Jolly is rated 11th in the NCAA in game-winning goals (4), while Mennell is ranked 24th in shutouts (6) and 46th in goals against average (.935).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron is encountering Xavier for the 10th time in program history with the Zips owning a 7-1-1 series advantage. In the last meeting between the two schools, Akron and the Musketeers battled to a 0-0 draw on Oct. 14 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
AKRON CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
Akron maintains an 36-10-5 mark in 51 matches in league championship history, including a 13-2 mark under head coach Jared Embick. The Zips are 23-3-3 in home matches at FirstEnergy Stadium in tournament play and 3-3-0 in true road contests.
AKRON CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES
Senior Sam Tojaga (Erie, Pa.) is Akron's active leader in league tournament games started at five, while Will Jackson has started in two tournament matches. Fourteen Zips own at least one tournament appearance. Tojaga paces the squad in shots (4) and shots on goal (1), Johnny Fitzgerald leads the Zips in goals (1) and Jackson paces the squad in assists (1).
SHOKALOOK MAKING RUN AT BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE YEAR HONORS
Jason Shokalook has turned in an amazing run of play this season and has positioned himself as one of the leading contenders to earn Big East Player of the Year accolades. Over the last eight games for Akron he has recorded 10 of his team-leading 14 goals on the strength of team-high marks in goals (10), points (21), shots (52), shots on goal (26) and game-winners (2). He delivered braces in back-to-back-to-back contests against Seton Hall (Sept. 29), Northern Kentucky (Oct. 3) and DePaul (Oct. 7) before connecting on his second career hat trick at Cleveland State (Oct. 10). He now owns seven career multi-goal affairs, including five this season.
Shokalook ranks first in the BIG EAST in goals (0.88), points (2.06) and shots (5.06) per game as well as leading the league in total goals (14), shots (81) and points (33) and rating ninth in assists (5). In league-only affairs, Shokalook leads the BIG EAST in total shots (43), as well as shots (5.38) per contest, while standing second in total goals (6), total points (15) and goals (0.75) and points (1.88) per contest and seventh in assists per tilt (0.43).
Individually, Shokalook is first in the NCAA in total goals (14) and total points (33), second in shots per outing (5.06) and in shots on goal per match (2.50), third points per tilt (2.06), fourth in goals per game (0.88) and 35th in game-winning goals (3).
AKRON NOTES
• Five of the nine matches between Akron and Xavier have resulted in a shutout, with the Zips owning a 3-1-1 mark in those contests.
• The Zips have outscored Xavier, 9-5, in six road games against the Musketeers.
• Akron has scored two or more goals in six all-time meetings with Xavier.
• Akron has posted double-digit shots on goal seven times this season.
• The Zips have recorded 20 or more shots in sight games this season.
• Akron is rated 30th in the latest NCAA RPI poll, while owning a 2-0-1 mark versus top-30 teams in the rankings. The Zips bested No. 9 Florida International and No. 14 Vermont, while garnering a draw with No. 1 Notre Dame.
• Jason Shokalook has recorded five multi-goal performances on the campaign, including scoring two or more goals on four straight contests versus Seton Hall, Northern Kentucky, DePaul and Cleveland State. Earlier in the season, he netted goals in the fourth and 10th minutes, respectively, in a 2-0 victory over No. 11 Florida International on Sept. 11. Shokalook previous netted a pair of goals versus the Panthers in 2022 as well as a hat trick against Bowling Green in 2021.
• Jason Shokalook is ranked13th among active career leaders in D1 in points per game (1.25), 17th in total points (74), 19th in total goals (28) and goals per tilt (0.47) and 34th in total assists (18). Additionally, Mitch Budler is rated 22nd in goals against average (0.984) and 23rd in solo shutouts (14).
• Thirteen different Zips have scored a goal this season, including three newcomers.
• Twenty Zips have registered a shot this season, including six newcomers.
SEVEN ZIPS HONORED ON SENIOR NIGHT
The Zips' contest versus Marquette on Oct. 21 marked the final regular season home games in the careers of Johnny Fitzgerald, Josh Hallenberger (San Antonio, Texas), Will Jackson, Josef Paulus (Hinckley, Ohio), Joel Sangwa, Sam Tojaga and Alejandro Varela (A Coruna, Spain).
Fitzgerald has appeared in 69 career games as a Zip recording eight goals, including three game-winners, to go along with 12 assists on 54 shots, of which 22 falling on frame.
Hallenberger has appeared in 27 career games as a Zip, recording four goals and two assists on 12 shots, including eight on goal.
Jackson has appeared in 77 career games as a Zip recording 11 goals, including six game-winners, to go along with 12 assists on 114 shots, including 46 on frame.
Paulus has appeared in 56 career games as a Zip recording five goals and six assists on 51 shots, including 19 on net.
Sangwa has started all 37 career games as a Zip recording five goals and two assists on 16 shots, of which eight have come on frame.
Tojaga has appeared in 71 career games as a Zip, including the 2018 NCAA title game, en route to recording a goal and six assists on 47 shots, including 12 on goal.
Varela has appeared in 16 games for Akron this fall, including 12 starts, he owns a goal on 15 shots, including eight on net.
GAME INFO
Akron at Xavier | Nov. 4 | 7 PM | Cincinnati, Ohio | Live Stats | BIG EAST Digital Network/FloSports
HEAD COACHES
Xavier: John Higgins (UIndy, 2010), Overall Record: 166-61-41 (14th Season), Record at Butler: 16-5-12 (Second Season)
Akron: Jared Embick (Indiana Wesleyan, 2000), Overall Record: 180-76-40 (14th Season), Record at Akron: 133-55-32 (11th Season)
SCOUTING AKRON
The Zips under the leadership of 11th-year head coach Jared Embick enters its showdown at Xavier on Saturday (Nov. 4) at 9-1-7 on the campaign, including a 2-1-5 mark in the BIG EAST, following a 0-0 draw at Butler on Oct. 28.
Junior Jason Shokalook (Erie, Pa.) owns team-high marks in goals (14), assists (5), points (31), shots (81), shots on goal (40) and game-winners (3). Redshirt sophomore GK Mitch Budler (Lincoln, Neb.) has collected 29 saves and owns a 0.74 goals against average with eight shutouts this season.
The Zips are rated first in the NCAA in corner kicks (8.53), second in shots per game (19.06), third in shots on goal per contest (8.06) and in shutout percentage (.588), seventh in team goals against average (.647), 16th in goal differential (20), 19th in winning percentage (.735), 20th in total assists (36), 25th in total points (98), 26th in assists per game (2.12), 28th in total goals (31), 30th in save percentage (.780), 33rd in points per tilt (5.76) and 41st in scoring offense (1.82).
Individually, Jason Shokalook is first in the NCAA in total goals (14) and total points (33), second in shots on goal per match (2.50), third in shots per outing (5.06) and points per tilt (2.06), fourth in goals per game (0.88) and 35th in game-winning goals (3). Mitch Budler is 10th in shutouts (8) and 17th in goals against average (0.739).
Overall, Akron returns 11 starters in 2023 from a squad that registered a 11-4-5 overall record, including a 5-0-3 ledger in league play. Headlining that group is 2022 All-Mid-American Conference performers, juniors Jonas Buechte (Rantigen, Germany) and Dyson Clapier (Layton, Utah) and Johnny Fitzgerald (Tallahassee, Fla.), junior Malik Henry (Hamilton, Ontario), Will Jackson (Hudson, Ohio), Joel Sangwa (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Shokalook and junior Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal (Carbondale, Ill.), from a team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 35th time in program history.
SCOUTING XAVIER
Xavier enters its match against Akron on Saturday (Nov. 4) at 7-3-5 on the season, including 4-1-3 in the BIG EAST Conference, following a 4-0 victory at UConn on Oct. 28.
Senior Jerome Jolly leads the Musketeers in goals (4), points (10), shots on goal (12) and game-winners (4), while junior Taylor Rhinehart paces the squad in assists (3) and shots (23). Sophomore GK Jonny Mennell has recorded 43 saves this season and maintains a 0.94 goals against average with six shutouts.
As a team, Xavier is rated first in the NCAA in penalty kicks (1.000), 33rd in shots on goal per game (6.13) and shutout percentage (.400), 37th in team goals against average (.933) and 48th in save percentage (.759).
Individually, Jolly is rated 11th in the NCAA in game-winning goals (4), while Mennell is ranked 24th in shutouts (6) and 46th in goals against average (.935).
SERIES HISTORY
Akron is encountering Xavier for the 10th time in program history with the Zips owning a 7-1-1 series advantage. In the last meeting between the two schools, Akron and the Musketeers battled to a 0-0 draw on Oct. 14 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
AKRON CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
Akron maintains an 36-10-5 mark in 51 matches in league championship history, including a 13-2 mark under head coach Jared Embick. The Zips are 23-3-3 in home matches at FirstEnergy Stadium in tournament play and 3-3-0 in true road contests.
AKRON CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES
Senior Sam Tojaga (Erie, Pa.) is Akron's active leader in league tournament games started at five, while Will Jackson has started in two tournament matches. Fourteen Zips own at least one tournament appearance. Tojaga paces the squad in shots (4) and shots on goal (1), Johnny Fitzgerald leads the Zips in goals (1) and Jackson paces the squad in assists (1).
SHOKALOOK MAKING RUN AT BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE YEAR HONORS
Jason Shokalook has turned in an amazing run of play this season and has positioned himself as one of the leading contenders to earn Big East Player of the Year accolades. Over the last eight games for Akron he has recorded 10 of his team-leading 14 goals on the strength of team-high marks in goals (10), points (21), shots (52), shots on goal (26) and game-winners (2). He delivered braces in back-to-back-to-back contests against Seton Hall (Sept. 29), Northern Kentucky (Oct. 3) and DePaul (Oct. 7) before connecting on his second career hat trick at Cleveland State (Oct. 10). He now owns seven career multi-goal affairs, including five this season.
Shokalook ranks first in the BIG EAST in goals (0.88), points (2.06) and shots (5.06) per game as well as leading the league in total goals (14), shots (81) and points (33) and rating ninth in assists (5). In league-only affairs, Shokalook leads the BIG EAST in total shots (43), as well as shots (5.38) per contest, while standing second in total goals (6), total points (15) and goals (0.75) and points (1.88) per contest and seventh in assists per tilt (0.43).
Individually, Shokalook is first in the NCAA in total goals (14) and total points (33), second in shots per outing (5.06) and in shots on goal per match (2.50), third points per tilt (2.06), fourth in goals per game (0.88) and 35th in game-winning goals (3).
AKRON NOTES
• Five of the nine matches between Akron and Xavier have resulted in a shutout, with the Zips owning a 3-1-1 mark in those contests.
• The Zips have outscored Xavier, 9-5, in six road games against the Musketeers.
• Akron has scored two or more goals in six all-time meetings with Xavier.
• Akron has posted double-digit shots on goal seven times this season.
• The Zips have recorded 20 or more shots in sight games this season.
• Akron is rated 30th in the latest NCAA RPI poll, while owning a 2-0-1 mark versus top-30 teams in the rankings. The Zips bested No. 9 Florida International and No. 14 Vermont, while garnering a draw with No. 1 Notre Dame.
• Jason Shokalook has recorded five multi-goal performances on the campaign, including scoring two or more goals on four straight contests versus Seton Hall, Northern Kentucky, DePaul and Cleveland State. Earlier in the season, he netted goals in the fourth and 10th minutes, respectively, in a 2-0 victory over No. 11 Florida International on Sept. 11. Shokalook previous netted a pair of goals versus the Panthers in 2022 as well as a hat trick against Bowling Green in 2021.
• Jason Shokalook is ranked13th among active career leaders in D1 in points per game (1.25), 17th in total points (74), 19th in total goals (28) and goals per tilt (0.47) and 34th in total assists (18). Additionally, Mitch Budler is rated 22nd in goals against average (0.984) and 23rd in solo shutouts (14).
• Thirteen different Zips have scored a goal this season, including three newcomers.
• Twenty Zips have registered a shot this season, including six newcomers.
SEVEN ZIPS HONORED ON SENIOR NIGHT
The Zips' contest versus Marquette on Oct. 21 marked the final regular season home games in the careers of Johnny Fitzgerald, Josh Hallenberger (San Antonio, Texas), Will Jackson, Josef Paulus (Hinckley, Ohio), Joel Sangwa, Sam Tojaga and Alejandro Varela (A Coruna, Spain).
Fitzgerald has appeared in 69 career games as a Zip recording eight goals, including three game-winners, to go along with 12 assists on 54 shots, of which 22 falling on frame.
Hallenberger has appeared in 27 career games as a Zip, recording four goals and two assists on 12 shots, including eight on goal.
Jackson has appeared in 77 career games as a Zip recording 11 goals, including six game-winners, to go along with 12 assists on 114 shots, including 46 on frame.
Paulus has appeared in 56 career games as a Zip recording five goals and six assists on 51 shots, including 19 on net.
Sangwa has started all 37 career games as a Zip recording five goals and two assists on 16 shots, of which eight have come on frame.
Tojaga has appeared in 71 career games as a Zip, including the 2018 NCAA title game, en route to recording a goal and six assists on 47 shots, including 12 on goal.
Varela has appeared in 16 games for Akron this fall, including 12 starts, he owns a goal on 15 shots, including eight on net.
Players Mentioned
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